For the Painful Love of Theatre

I am thrilled to be making my debut in “Just the Ticket”! Why Lisa? Really theater? Well. I want to eat the frog. It’s not just untouchable; it has warts. But I’ve wanted to eat the frog for years. And years where I pushed it away and didn’t want to think of the frog. The time is now. 2020 with all its own warts and waves of emotion to get honest about the frog. Lisa, get the knife and fork or don’t. Of course, I believe to have found my true frog whisperer that has encouraged this crazy dining experience. There's no way around it: a frog you can't eat in one gulp. So it's important to find ways not only of carving it up into manageable, bite-sized pieces, but to find things that will help that frog go down easier. Ellensburg Theater and Gigi provide a perfectly laid out table with appropriate accoutrements and utensils, spices, sweetness and salt for me to eat this frog. So “Here I am”. Bon appetit!

Who would have guessed through all my rattling nerves and angst that I would have loved the theatre from on the stage, behind the stage, and under the stage as much as I love being the spectator. My debut in Just the Ticket in 2020 was the catalyst and fuel. Those Susan’s, Gigi our director and our stage crew were such an encouraging and talented group...I had to come back. Or in other words “Dannng that frog was good!” Now I plan to serve it up southern style with a kick of tabasco and officially say “I reckon, I’m as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs but now this ain’t my first rodeo!”

This cast, production team and spit-fire director are as thick as fleas on a farm dog and couldn’t be happier than a tornado in a trailer park to share with ya’ll. So, hold your horses because we’re fixin to show how things can quickly go to hell in a handbasket, as two mules end up fight-n’ over a turnup, our southern hot mess is runnin’ round like a chicken with her head cut off, ...in fact the whole gang may be a card short of a full deck but it’s as funny as all get out. Trust me. It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Bye-de-bye-bye!

I want to enjoy as many productions that actually allure me or challenge me...along with some extra dark chocolate and a force field around me that repels stage fright. This production will be magic number 3 and I cannot wait for you to see what our talented director has cooked up! I am so excited to learn from Val and this inspiring cast of characters! My heart-throb has joined the cast and has made this production "oh--- so much a delight". Cheers Dahhhlling and entire crew!

"Bunny" aka Lisa Calvet-Smith has tapped your toes and boogied your booty to Boogie Wonderland in Just the Ticket, she obnoxiously snooped her way into your family as Bitsy in Red Velvet Cake Wars, and she joined her heart-throb on stage in a Radio Show production. Bunny has now arm-wrestled, bribed and charmed her way one more time and simply cannot imagine herself without the ETC family. Oh, and thank goodness dating will never be an option again!! Ohh-Oh-Ah-Ah-Ah! Enjoy!

My vessel, thus far, is filled with my man and my dog. Both satisfy my need to plumb the middle depth of said vessel somewhere between the sparkle of the surface and the blackness of the deep water. However, on stage, there’s a letting go, a desire to float, to dive but not drown. The first time I stepped on stage, it “seusieffied” me. Thank you Miranda for your faith.

How does one decide who is crazy and who is sane? If you peer into the mornings around the Calvet-Smith household you may wrestle with that question. I am delighted to be back on stage with these brilliantly entertaining actors attempting to deliver a combination of humor, mystery with a touch of heart-warming sentimentality. Fairy May is an empowering character (thank you Debbie!) that I hope to bring charm, bite, sincerity and, of course quirk to life. All of her high-end mental asylum co-horts deliver on how being unique is the routine…while the entire cast pulls off the good message about trying to live your life to its fullest and not letting dreams go unfulfilled. The Curious Savage sings a good song we all need to hear.

My second Christmas production, and numero 7 here at the Rogue Playhouse! Our director Val and musical director Kelsey are equally encouraging, creative and...courageous - Harry Connick Jr? This amazing cast will give it all and leave nothing. I promise. PS. I am literally the happy elf.

I have been dreaming of my chance to dance to the directional talent of Michael Hall ever since my whimsical stint in Red Velvet Cake Wars as the lively Bitsy - where fate brought us together backstage. Surrounded by a contraband of talent on and off stage, I am so humbled, yet relish every sip of this intoxicating concoction! Kate would say it’s dang good! Yes, I am stepping into the colossal shoes and exuberant persona of Miss Kate Eldar. I aim to infuse her grit and sincerity reminiscent of the wild, wild west with a vibrant brush of you will love-to-hate-her.

Lisa Calvet-Smith tip-toed onto the stage in 2020 when the theater whispered "Just the Ticket". Fast forward to 2024 with her 8th play as Kate Eldar in "Tombstone" and five directors later she now tries to tighten her leash, grab civility by the collar and tame her household in "Sylvia". She is thrilled to be working for the first time with Three Penny Theatre under direction of Jason Liddel!

Lisa Calvet-Smith tip-toed onto the stage in 2020 when the theater whispered "Just the ticket". Fast forward to 2025 and she's hit double digits - 10 shows and counting! Now, she's rolling the dice as the sharp-tongued Louise in Play On! under the electric direction of Debie Roush who constantly raises the stakes for everyone. Louse, confident in her winning hand thinks you will love this play! What do you wanna bet?